Six Nations 2019: What are England losing in the absence of Mako Vunipola?

[#Dobe~ClasSy!☠]

few years ago, former England Under-18 coach John Fletcher said that the best centre he had ever seen at age-grade level was Mako Vunipola.

Fletcher was making a mischievous joke…probably. He had overseen the development of Manu Tuilagi, Henry Slade, Jonathan Joseph and Owen Farrell by that point.

Even so, such a suggestion spoke volumes for Vunipola’s rare talents. The loosehead prop is an intuitive ball-player, capable of reading defences, judging teammate’s running angles and delivering dextrous offloads.